art

【Art? Fashion? or Both?】
If you enjoy shopping and appreciating art at the same time in Shibuya,
I recommend you the main Tokyu Department Store and Bunkamura(文化村, Cultural Village).

Shibuya is the area, of which station is a major terminus for commuter train and subway lines on Tokyo’s southwest side, boasts a number of landmark places that are part of the overall Shibuya shopping and dining scene, and make the district the one of the most popular places in Tokyo.
But there are a few spots where you can both enjoy shopping and appreciate art.
The main Tokyu Department Store (東急百貨店) and Bunkamura are easy access from Shibuya St. JR Line,Tokyu-Toyoko, Keio-Inokashira and Ginza Line and so on.
The location is along with a busy street called “Bunkamura Street (文化村通り)”,which was named after the Bunkamura building.
A great variety of shops are around them, for example, a mega discount shop or book store across the street.

【The Main Tokyu Department Store】
There are two Tokyu Department Stores in Shibuya. The first one sets top of Shibuya Station, which takes up the first two floors of the 12-story building.

On the other hand, the main Tokyu Store has 10 floors and parking lots in the basement.
It takes about a 5-to-8 minute walk northwest of the station. The main store is open daily from 11a.m. to 7 or 8p.m. , it is depending on each floor. The restaurant floor on the 8th is open until 10:30p.m. ,you can enjoy Japanese dining or Italien etc. In the main store, from women’s and men’s wears, lingeries,accessories to gourmet foods are available.
Particularly imported atems are well-filled and popular. Besides, there are more unique shops specializing in gardening,pets, toys and school uniforms.

【Bunkamura(Cultural Village)】
Bunkamura is located behind the main Tokyu Department Store, which includes a concert hall called “Orchard Hall”, a theater “Theater cocoon”, two cinemas,a museum with constantly changing exhibitions and several shops and restaurants.

As the building is connected with the main Tokyu Department Store by several passageways, people can move from one building to another easily. Bunkamura also provides a wide variety of arts for audience.
A lot of families and couples come to have a fun time. Let’s check it out!

【External Links】
▼The Main Tokyu Department Store Official Web Site is below.
http://www.tokyu-dept.co.jp/honten/

▼Bunkamura Official Web Site is below.
http://www.bunkamura.co.jp/english/index.html

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

One remarkable characteristic of the traditional Japanese living is that paper is used for various purposes.
For example, to keep out sunlight from the house, Japanese housings use Shoji(障子), which is made of wooden frame and paper, instead of using curtains made of cloth.  Shoji is also used as room dividers and doors.

Shoji is made of Japanese paper, Washi (和紙).
Compared to western paper, the fiber used to make Washi is much longer.  This makes Washi tough, and makes its life span long.
Washi was also used as Fusuma (襖, sliding door which divide rooms), Byobu (屏風, folding screen), etc.

Fusuma. Byobu.

Wonder why Washi was used so heavily?
For the Japanese climate is hot and humid, it was important to build houses in which people can enjoy comfortable lives since ancient times.
Washi was used for housing because it modulates humidity, and the material was plentiful.

Washi is not only used for housing.
Surprisingly, it was even used to make umbrellas!  The surface is coated with Kakishibu (柿渋, fermented juice of date plum) and oil, which repels water.

Today, Washi is not only used in the traditional way, but also used as modern art.  Various goods such as light shades are made, to fit modern houses as well as traditional Japanese houses.

Would you like to live with Washi too?
You can buy Washi at some craft shops, and interior accessory shops.

I recommend Haibara (榛原) for Washi goods.
Haibara is a long established shop, which has been in Nihombashi since 1806.  It was the first store to export Washi.  Washi from Haibara is housed in museums in Europe, such as the Louvre.

Haibara (榛原)
Location: Nihombashi, Chuo-ku
1 minute walk from Nihombashi station (Ginza line, Tozai line, Asakusa line)
Website: http://www.haibara.co.jp/index.html (Japanese)

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/